Andy | Saving to Invest

Saving Money on Calling Costs Via VOIP Phones

As a relatively new small business owner working from home, one of the money saving technologies I have been looking into is VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) telephony. A broadband or VoIP phone is like a regular phone except it uses high speed Internet to make calls at a fraction of the…

5 Steps to Take Now in Preparation for Higher Inflation in The Coming Year

There is an important debate brewing around inflation in terms of its rise and sustainability. Many believe we are headed to significantly higher inflation in the coming months as Trump cuts taxes and imposes tariffs. Ultimately, whether we see inflation as a significant or permanent risk is a decision we…

3 Money Reasons to Buy a New Car – Tax Deductions, Used CAR Trade-In Vouchers and Electric-Hybrid Credits

If you are in the market to buy a new car or just looking for a reason to upgrade your existing car, then you could not have picked a better time than now. Apart from local and foreign automakers desperately cutting prices to stay in business or to revive flagging…

Will There Be Regular Economic Impact Stimulus Checks Every Year After 2021?

With payments for the initial round of stimulus checks underway, do you think the government will be rolling out more stimulus checks later this year? [Update] - The answer was clearly Yes, with two more stimulus checks paid in 2021. There is already talk that stimulus checks could become an…

Managing Across the Risk Spectrum: Choosing Portfolio Investments Based on Age and Market Conditions

While reviewing and updating my 401K allocations at Fidelity, I noticed this relatively common graphic showing portfolio mixes (allocations) based on an investor's risk profile. Generally speaking most financial advisers and traditional market wisdom tell you that your portfolio allocation should be based on your age, which determines the duration…

Negotiating Down Your Credit Card Debt by Half or More

A strange phenomenon is taking place – credit card companies are willing to really negotiate on how much you repay of your overdue debt. With revolving credit, a close approximation of credit card debt, totaling $940 billion in March of which 6.5 percent was at least 30 days past due…

Got a Headache Yet? If Not, Then Get a Mortgage and Buy a Home!

I just completed my first home purchase – a long and challenging journey that eventually had a happy ending. I have few regrets in becoming a home owner, but little did I realize that when I started my home buying journey a few months ago that things would be as…

2022-2023 High Yield, Money Market Account Savings and Mortgage Rates Rising as Fed Hikes Rates

Rates on all things financial are heading up. This is good news for some and bad news for others. Savings rates on high interest savings and money market accounts are up after falling to multi-year lows. My recent CIT savings account is now paying nearly 4%, which is a lot…

Apple Stock Soaring – A new iPhone and Media Tablet in the Works makes the Stock worth Buying

The recent run up in Apple stock (AAPL) over the last three months has made me one happy stock holder indeed. My ill fated and much disparaged purchase last year (see comments) of the stock at $180+ had many saying that I was crazy to buy. I always had a…

Outside of Detroit does anyone care that US Automakers GM and Chrysler are now Bankrupt

Bloomberg, along with the WSJ, bring us an interesting viewpoint on the US automakers path down bankruptcy and the debate on who really cares. Living outside Detroit, I do feel sorry for the personal and financial tragedy that many are facing due to the bankruptcy of the automakers, but from…

Which Company is Cheaper for Auto Insurance?

I've had my auto insurance with State Farm for the past few years, and every year their car insurance premiums have been going up. It was only a few dollars difference and I just ended up paying the higher rate. But when I recently received a new renewal notice, their…

Credit Card Reform: Penalizing the Good for America’s Bad Personal Finance and Spending Habits

Following on his somewhat controversial article on the negative relationship between Religion and Money, guest author Tony Parker takes a cynical look at the recently enacted credit card reforms and why they make him angry. __________ What a surprise, the government has imposed even more regulations on what’s left of…

Biden American Rescue Plan (ARP) – The Final Stimulus Package in 2021

President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus proposal called the American Rescue Plan (ARP) has now been passed in Congress. It contains several provisions to help small business, local governments and low and middle class households. This includes additional economic impact payments (a.k.a stimulus checks) and a further extension of unemployment benefits. You can see…

Tips on Purchasing a Disability Insurance Policy – Forgo it at your own Peril

If you are like most people, disability insurance is not very high on your list when it comes to coverage you should have. Most workers take the standard (free or subsidized) disability insurance offered by their employer and if none is available, they simply forgo it. This is strange because…